Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company Plans US $500M Investments in the Beverage Sector Within the Next Three Years
(02/07/2015) The Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company (ACCBC), one of the leading beverage industry players in the Middle East and North Africa, today revealed its significant expansion plans across the region.
The company will invest US$500 million into the beverage industry within the next three years, including a series of capacity improvements, innovations in new packages and consumer occasions, as well as IT infrastructure upgrades.
Speaking on the sidelines of Gulfood, Nicolaas Nusmeier, Chief Executive Officer, ACCBC, said: “Robust expansion plans will enable ACCBC to realize the vision of its shareholders across the Middle East and North Africa. We already have a portfolio of strong brands, and an excellent track record as a regional beverage operator. Major investments in capacity, geographical coverage, and brand development will allow us to capitalise on the growth potential for the beverage industry in the MENA region.
“Despite political and economic disruption over the past few years, the regional beverage market has continued to grow, and we expect this to continue.
“For ACCBC, an increasingly youthful population across MENA together with opportunities for new categories and fresh consumer-focused innovations mean significant growth prospects
“ACCBC is putting in place a strategy to become one of the biggest beverage operators in the region, growing from a company within a single category and a limited geography into a total beverage, multi-country, powerhouse.”
In 2014, ACCBC delivered double-digit volume growth. ACCBC also completed the acquisition of a majority stake in the National Beverage Company S.A.L. (NBC), the manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola, Pampa, and several other brands in Lebanon. The acquisition reinforced ACCBC’s long-term commitment to the Levant region, and demonstrates the value of the growth partnership with the Coca-Cola system, enabling NBC to achieve necessary scale through access to ACCBC’s extensive sales and distribution expertise.
In addition, ACCBC confirmed plans announced in 2014 to invest in a state-of-the-art factory in Egypt which will supply ACCBC’s brands to the Egyptian market, with expansion potential across other African markets.
In Algeria, the biggest juice market in Africa, volume of ACCBC’s flagship brand Rani has grown over 300% within the last four years.
“We believe that Rani can achieve market leadership in Algeria within the next 3-5 years,” Nusmeier confirmed.
ACCBC is participating at Gulfood 2015 from 8 -12 February, with a stand located on the concourse in front of Hall no. 8, at Dubai World Trade Centre.
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About Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company:
Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company (ACCBC) is the authorised manufacturer and distributor of Rani and Barbican brands and the licensed manufacturer in the Middle East for VIMTO. In 2014, ACCBC acquired a majority stake in the National Beverage Company S.A.L. (NBC), becoming the manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola, Pampa, and several other brands in Lebanon.
ACCBC along with Rani Refreshments (RR) – the global trademark owner of Rani and Barbican were established in 2012 following The Coca-Cola Company’s successful acquisition of 50 percent of Aujan’s beverage business.
ACCBC owns three manufacturing facilities located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Dubai, UAE; and Beirut, Lebanon. In 2014, the company announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Cairo, Egypt.